MMWD to call for voluntary 20 percent water reduction

Marin Municipal Water District officials Tuesday are likely to approve a resolution calling for a 20 percent voluntary reduction in water use.

The move, which would come as the dry weather continues, would mirror a similar call made to the public by Gov. Jerry Brown last week.

Asking for the voluntary reduction is a part of the district's water shortage contingency plan. The board meets at 7:30 p.m. at 220 Nellen Ave. in Corte Madera.

"No one at the district is talking about anything but the drought, it has commanded everyone's attention," said Jack Gibson, a member of the water board.

District officials met last Friday to kick around ideas and the 20 percent voluntary cutback came to the fore.

"There is no rain, it's time to conserve, " Gibson said. "We know the community spirit is there, they have cut back in the past when asked."

For the third year in a row, the weather has been dry. As a result, reservoirs are much lower than normal for this winter season and are unlikely to fill with the spring runoff, according to the district.

As of last week the district's reservoirs contained 43,600 acre-feet — 14,200 million gallons — of water, which is 30 percent or 18,700 acre-feet — 6,100 million gallons — lower than normal for this date.

If the district's watersheds do not receive a substantial amount of rain over the next few months, the amount of water stored in the reservoirs will be less than 50,000 acre-feet on April 1.

At that point if there are less than 40,000 acre feet, a 25 percent mandatory program would be implemented. An acre foot can supply about three single-family homes with water for a year. There are 325,851 gallons in an acre foot.

The current dry year water use reduction program was adopted by the district in February 1999 in response to the extended drought of 1987 through 1992.

Marin just experienced its driest year on record. In 2013, 10.68 inches of rain were recorded at Lake Lagunitas, where the water district — which has data dating to 1879 — keeps its official weather gauge.

The previous record low was set in 1929 when 19.06 inches of rain fell. The annual average is 52 inches per year.

The Marin Municipal Water District serves about 190,000 people between Sausalito and San Rafael and gets 25 percent of its water from Sonoma, the balance coming from local reservoirs on Mount Tamalpais.

Forecasters say there is a glimmer of hope for rain at the end of this month or early February, but nothing is forecast before then.

"There will be nothing in the next week," said Austin Cross, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "There is a hint of some rain later, but it doesn't look impressive. But something is better than nothing."

Top 10 ways to save water: Check for leaks and repair them immediately. Turn off automatic sprinkler systems and water plants only as needed. Check water pressure and install pressure-compensating faucet aerators and showerheads. Check your water meter and learn to read it and spot unusual usage and leaks. Participate in the district's free conservation programs. Install high-efficiency "water-sense" toilets. Install a high-efficiency clothes washer. Install a "water-sense" labeled smart irrigation controller. Add compost and mulch to gardens. Make gardens water smart.